Some see Jesse Livermore as the best trader ever.
I see a gambler who lost everything.
He started with just $232.82 at the age of 14 (in today's money).
At 23, he had more than $2M, but he lost it all at 24 (and then some).
He had more than $15.5M at age 29 and lost it all that same year.
That's pathetic behavior. Never enough.
2 years later: $194.2M; 6 years later: down $ 34.9 M.
At 52, he had more than $2B but at 57, he had $134M in debt.
Won it back at 60, lost it again at 63.
That's when he committed suicide.
A gambler who didn't know what was enough, 3 bankruptcies, multiple divorces, and making use of a market that was not yet regulated.
It's an entertaining character, even charismatic. And sure, he had some timeless lessons.
But he forgot his own most important insight: "The biggest enemy is yourself."
Not my type of guy.